Govt. sponsored Adivasi stir: Pinarayi

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE, OCT. 17. The CPI(M) is quite unhappy with the settlement reached by the UDF Government with the Adivasi leader, Ms. C. K. Janu.

This was clear from the tone and content of the speeches heard at a convention of the CPI(M)-sponsored Adivasi Kshema Samithi (AKS) at the Tagore Centenary Hall here today.

Inaugurating the convention, which was attended by a large number of Adivasis from different districts, the CPI(M) State secretary, Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, demanded that the Government distribute among tribals the land that had been earmarked for the purpose during the LDF rule. He warned that there would be an agitation if the Government did not do so.

Mr. Vijayan dismissed the stir led by Ms. Janu as "a UDF- sponsored agitation" and as an ``image-building exercise'' for the Chief Minister, Mr. A. K. Antony, in which the agitators were hand in glove with the UDF and some vested interests.

``The agitation has not brought any benefits to Adivasis.

Only the gullible and apolitical groups were impressed by Ms. Janu and her agitation,'' Mr. Vijayan said.

Mr. Vijayan claimed that the LDF Government had done a lot of good things for Adivasis. But after the Assembly election, the UDF Government which came to power had either abandoned or distorted many of these tribal welfare schemes. The LDF Government had identified land that was to be distributed among tribals. This process had already started in some districts.

Mr. Vijayan alleged that the agitation conducted by Ms. Janu was organised by some agencies which did not represent Adivasis. `Ms. Janu was just a cheer leader for the UDF and vested interests,'' he said.

The Marxist leader said the police had provided protection to the agitators to put up huts in front of the Secretariat. ``It was a Government-sponsored stir with the objective of creating an impression that Mr. Antony has solved all tribal problems,'' he said

Mr. Vijayan said that the tribal people had not made any gains from the stir led by Ms. Janu. ``The public have been duped. Mr. Antony wanted to get his image brushed up'', he said.

He alleged that the UDF Government was not interested in tribal welfare. This was clear from its decision not to give funds meant for tribal welfare through local bodies. The LDF Government had distributed the funds through local bodies to ensure that its benefits reached the target group. ``The UDF has returned the funds to bureaucrats. ``This is clearly to ensure that the benefits went not to Adivasis, but to some vested interests,'' Mr. Vijayan alleged.

The CPI(M) agitation would not be like the UDF-sponsored stir led by Ms. Janu, Mr. Vijayan said.

The senior CPI(M) leaders, Mr. A. Kanaran and Mr. Kelappan, and leaders of the AKS, Mr. Sundaram and Mr. Vidyadharan Kani, were present at the convention.

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